| Author | Message | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2249 Registered: 3-2004  |
Today I went to a baby shower for a young lady, who I call my "younger sister". She is the DIL of an Adventist lady I met at the last SDA church I attended here in Las Vegas. The SDA lady, who I considered a friend, called me about two weeks ago and wanted to know if I still lived at the same address because her DIL wanted me at the shower. So I went and did not know what to expect as most of the women there were from the SDA church. It is a celebration church and is very liberal. Everyone was friendly and were glad to see me and I enjoyed seeing them again. No one condemned me. No one said anything about my new church affiliation. One of the lady's and I talked about where we are now in relation to Christ and what we are doing with our lives. The reason I am writing is that all of a sudden I am afraid, afraid that I will be sucked into the SDA church again and all its legalism and false doctine. I am afraid that their friendliness will lure be back. What I want to do is cut and run in the opposite direction. I know God has a plan for me and for each of those women and I may be part of that plan. So, I will do as I did on the way home and thank God I could witness for Him and let Him take care of the fears. I will hang on to God and my Bible. I will see these women again, especially the MIL of the young lady. We had been friends. The SS leader was there also. We hugged and greeted each other like old friends. So pray for all of these women. I know God loves them and wants them in heaven. Just needed to talk about my fears and let God take care of them. In all things God is so awesome. Diana | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 912 Registered: 7-2004 |
Dear, sweet Diana, God will protect you. He already owns you and you know that. I have been talking to my cousin this afternoon. She and I are the only two who escaped SDA into the arms of other churches, and as such are of the greatest concerns to our families. Those who left the SDA fold for "the world" aren't of as much concern to our SDA family members as my cousin and me who have joined with the "nominal christians." She and I have decided that we are going to reach out to our family members and use every device that God places at our disposal to expose them to the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To encourage you I just want remind you that you have been innoculated against the error of Adventism, but you have not been innoculated against the precious people who are still being effected by Adventism. If God has brought you to this position it is because he has a work for you, and all you need to do is to put on the armor of God and stand where he has placed you. Be their friend, show them your joy. It just might make them hungry for the same thing you already have. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2250 Registered: 3-2004 |
Belva, You are a true friend. I know God is with me and and I was thanking Him as I went to the shower this afternoon. I have tears running down my eyes as I read you post above and I as I type this as I know God wants to use me where He wants and I want Him to use me as He sees hit. I feel so alone, as I feel like the only former SDA in Las Vegas. I have met one other and she seemed to want to leave SDAs alone. But I know that when I submit to God and say use me anyway you see fit, He does. And I have done that along with asking His help. I will say, the women at the shower all said I looked happy today and I can only give God credit for that. So remember me in your prayers as I will remember you and your cousin in my prayers. God will use us where He wants us and will put the words and actions in us that He wants us to use. Thank you Belva for your words of encouragement. Thank you God for the friends I have here on this forum. I have to tell you what happened in Guest Central after church today. Guest Central is where visitors go to find out more about our church. We have a gift for them. We pray with them if they want and we encourage them. This one one lady brought her friend who was visiting from California. As we spoke I told her I had left a cult like church and she asked which one. I told her "Seventh day Adventist" It turns out she has SDA friends, but does not know what they believe. So I referred her to this website. She had a pen to write with and I gave her as much information as I could remember. I am always in awe of God when He arranges for me to me others who know Adventist and uses me to tell others of Adventism. God, as always, you are so awesome. Diana | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1239 Registered: 3-2005 |
Diana, Don't be taken in by how friendly those folks were today. If they go to a liberal celebration SDA church, and if it is anything like the liberal celebration SDA churches in SoCal, then they don't really believe in very much. The Bible is not inerrant in their theology, and they believe everyone is already saved anyway, so they are not going to care that you go to a church where the Bible is held up as truly the Word of God. You are in my prayers. Stay firmly in God's Word. God bless you, Stan | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3300 Registered: 12-2003  |
Dear Diana, I understand your sudden fear. Sometimes meeting old Adventist friends and finding them open and friendly is deeply unsettling. "Did I misunderstand what I left?" I've sometimes asked myself. Belva is right; your rejection of Adventism is based on Scriptural authority. The individuals, however, are people God wants to save, and He is sovereign over your contact with them. You can trust Him to keep your heart and mind safe. Praying for you... Colleen | ||
| Lynne Registered user Username: Lynne Post Number: 244 Registered: 10-2005 |
Diana, It just all seemed so real when we went to church and were Seventh-day Adventists, even when we didn't go to church. But the truth is, what scares me most, is my mind was not my own. Going back to legalism, false doctrine...... You had flashes of a bad dream, a nightmare, and it was real, you lived it for a long, long time. Maybe the cultishness of it might have wooed you. But Jesus has already removed you from that. You will not want to trample the truth, Jesus, and go back. I think you love Jesus too much for that. The only thing protecting my mind now is the bible and prayer. I am saved because of Jesus and God will take care of the rest. Romans 12:21 says "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. I'm not calling them evil, just the false spirit of deception that held us hostage. You are right - He is Awsome! Lynne | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2251 Registered: 3-2004 |
Thanks Colleen, Lynne, Stan and Belva, I knew when those fearful thoughts came up that God is still in charge of my life. These people are dear to me and I have been praying for them. Thanks for your encouragement and for each of you. I am so blessed to have you as friends and brethren in Christ. Diana | ||
| Lindylou Registered user Username: Lindylou Post Number: 118 Registered: 1-2005  |
Dear Diana, I just want to add my two bits - as I read your initial post I could feel your fear - for I've been there also! Every now and then fear niggles at me too. The thing we have to remember is that we left SDAism not because of the people! But because of the doctrine. We have to keep the two separate - which can be so hard to do sometimes! It is not much different from dealing with an exboyfriend or spouse that we left because it was an unhealthy relationship. There are times when we come back in contact with that person and all the "abuse" or "red flags" seem to melt away and in the moment we only see a handsome hunk standing in front of us! Feeling alone only makes it more difficult to resist our fears. But I know you are in no danger of "going back". You were just being honest with your feelings. It is so nice that you have a safe place to go with those thoughts. You are a special woman - a spirit of caring and graciousness exudes from your written words. I know you will be fine! |
